The challenges facing school governing bodies in the Zeerust Area project office

Abstract

The challenges facing School Governing Bodies in the Zeerust APO. The purpose of this study was to determine from literature the nature and scope of school governance and to determine empirically the challenges facing the School Governing Bodies when performing their duties. The subjects of the study were SGB members (chairpersons, principals, no-educator members, and educator representatives). The responses of 120 respondents were analysed. The findings revealed that the SGB's are having challenges in areas like developing school policies, suspending and recommending expulsion of learners, handling legal issues of the school, visiting school regularly, making alternatives for learners during teacher unions strikes, pregnancy in schools, creating a safe environment, prevention of drug abuse, and time and workload. On the basis of the challenges identified from the literature and empirical study, the study recommends that regular training of SGB' s with specific reference to SASA (1996) should be done. This training should be informed by the needs of the SGB's and the language the SGB members understand best should be used both in the materials and during the training sessions.